Full guide to 70MM IMAX theaters in the U.S.: Locations and details

The audience gets an immersive experience like no other at 70MM IMAX theaters. Finding these theaters can improve moviegoing experience, whether it's for a film buff or a casual viewer.

The IMAX 70MM format maximizes visual and auditory experience with high-resolution cameras, film formats and projectors. These theaters have large screens with tall aspect ratios for a wide view. Every seat in the house has a great view, thanks to the steep stadium seating, making movie-watching unique and impressive.

From the features of IMAX 70MM theaters to the list of these IMAX theaters in the USA, here's a guide for all. All the US 70MM IMAX theater locations and characteristics are listed here.

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70MM IMAX Theaters in the USA: Features of these theaters

Large 70MM IMAX screens are often 79 feet wide, much wider than regular theater screens.

Most theaters have 1.43:1 or 1.90:1 aspect ratios, which make the picture taller and fill more of your field of view. The steep angle of stadium seating ensures everyone can see the screen. The horizontally laid film makes images wider and more detailed.

History of IMAX 70MM Theaters

Canada's Graeme Ferguson, Roman Kroitor, Robert Kerr and William C. Shaw invented the 70MM theaters in the late 1960s to enhance film immersion. In September 1967, they founded Multiscreen Corporation Ltd. and created IMAX projection standards.

They wanted to surpass 35mm and 70mm film limits. IMAX's 15/70 format, which runs 70mm film horizontally, produced an image area much larger than traditional formats, optimizing visual clarity and scale.

Multiscreen Corporation's breakthrough came from the technical challenges encountered during Expo 67 in Montreal. Complex multi-projector systems used for shows inspired the founders to create a simpler, high-quality single-projector system.

They adopted the "Rolling Loop" film-transport technology from Peter Ronald Wright Jones, enabling smooth movement of larger frames through the projector. This innovation was crucial for displaying high-resolution, large-format images and creating dedicated 70MM IMAX theaters with giant screens.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, IMAX introduced the SR and MPX systems to lower construction and maintenance costs, making the format more accessible. Although digital and laser projection have improved, 70MM remains the best format for immersive cinema.

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The list of 70MM IMAX Theaters in the U.S.

• Calgary — Scotiabank Chinook
• Edmonton — Scotiabank Edmonton
• Tempe — Harkins Arizona Mills 18
• Langley — Cineplex Langley
• Dublin: Regal Hacienda Crossings 20
• Irvine: Regal Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21
• Los Angeles (Hollywood): TCL Chinese Theatre
• Ontario: Regal Edwards Ontario Palace 22
• Sacramento: Esquire IMAX
• San Francisco: AMC Metreon 16
• Universal City: AMC Universal Cinema at Citywalk 19
• Florida: Fort Lauderdale: AutoNation IMAX
• Georgia: Buford: Regal Mall of Georgia 20
• Atlanta: Plaza Atlanta (35mm/70mm)
• Indianapolis: Indiana State Museum
• Shreveport: Sci-Port Discovery Center IMAX Dome Theatre
• Detroit: Chrysler IMAX Dome at Michigan Science Center
• Grand Rapids: Celebration! Cinema Grand Rapids North 18
• New York: AMC Lincoln Square 13
• Pennsylvania: King of Prussia: Regal UA King of Prussia 16
• Rhode Island: Providence: Providence Place 16
• Nashville: Regal Opry Mills 20
• Dallas: Cinemark Webb Chapel 17
• San Antonio: AMC Rivercenter 11

Watching movies in 70MM IMAX theaters is unmatched. Movies come alive on large screens, with high-resolution projection and great sound.

One can easily find the nearest U.S. IMAX 70MM theater and watch movies the right way with this guide. A 70MM IMAX theater is near you in California, Texas or New York, ready to transform your moviegoing experience.